Coach Mark Gottfried Awarded New ContractUniversity of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore announced today that head basketball coach Mark Gottfried has signed a new contract that will run through June 30, 2011.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Coach Mark Gottfried

University of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore announced today that head basketball coach Mark Gottfried has signed a new contract that will run through June 30, 2011. The new contract also provided a raise to $1 million a year, making Gottfried the first Alabama basketball coach to reach the million dollar mark.

“I feel this new contract reflects the tremendous progress coach Gottfried has made not only on the basketball court, but in the graduation rates of his student-athletes as well,” Moore said. “The graduation rates and APR (Academic Progress Rate) in men’s basketball was among the very best nationally and that is a very important area to me and Dr. Witt.

“Coach Gottfried has been a tremendous ambassador for the game of college basketball and that has translated to increased attendance, too.”

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees recently approved the new contract which will pay a $200,000 base salary and an additional $800,000 in talent fees. Gottfried’s bonus package was also restructured.

“I am very grateful to Dr. Witt and Mal Moore for their support and belief in our program,” Gottfried said. “They have made a commitment to basketball and for that I am very appreciative. Our staff has done a tremendous job and our young men continue to make me proud on and off the court. This is a place where my wife and I want to be for a long time. We want to have a program that will compete at the national level, while at the same time graduate our young men. Mal Moore is a tremendous person to work for and our relationship makes all the difference. There is no question that his leadership has helped this basketball program, especially with the commitment to our facilities.”

Gottfried, 41, has been the head basketball coach at Alabama since March, 1998, compiling a 143-83 record. He has averaged 22.6 wins over the past five seasons, including an appearance in the NCAA’s Elite Eight in 2004. Gottfried has guided the Crimson Tide to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. He has a 210-107 record in his career as a head coach, which includes three years at Murray State.